The Communications Specialist will design and implement communications strategies and tactics for Polaris, including but not limited to earned and digital media outreach and content creation. The goal of this role is to expand the organization’s ability to use traditional earned and social media to educate key populations about Polaris’s work and about human trafficking, raise smarter, more targeted awareness about the U.S. National Human Trafficking Hotline, support policy and advocacy agendas, and add value to campaigns and programmatic work throughout the organization.

Responsibilities

Develop and maintain relationships with journalists, reporters, and bloggers, with emphasis on but not limited to African American media and social media influencers, to increase awareness of human trafficking and of Polaris’s priorities and programs;

Liaise with other Polaris departments to keep apprised of projects that will be relevant to people of color, particularly African-American audiences, and consider ways to publicize or add value to those projects through earned and social media;

Create and implement processes to integrate expertise and knowledge from Hotline into communications strategies and earned and social media tactics by liaising with/mentoring/working with Hotline advocates on special projects.

Design and implement media outreach aimed at more targeted, high-value stories about the Hotline as a resource

Participate in managing daily press inquiries and requests

Lead and support strategies for publicizing Polaris events, data findings, reports and other products and programs as necessary, across the organization through digital and social media

Develop web-based and social media content, in coordination with the Digital Campaigns and Engagement Manager, to reach specific audiences and support priorities of the communications department;

This job description provides a summary of the major duties and responsibilities performed by individuals in this position. Incumbents may be asked to perform other tasks not specifically written in this job

Required Qualifications

Minimum of three to five years of relevant work experience in communications, public relations or related field;

Cultural competency and sensitivity in a diversity of cultures, backgrounds, and communication styles;

Clear and effective written and verbal communication skills;

Strong commitment to human rights;

Strong interpersonal skills and organizational skills;

Experience, competence, and confidence working independently and as part of a team;

Ability to balance multiple priorities at once; and

Eagerness to be creative and take initiative on new ideas and projects.

Preferred Qualifications

Education and/or training in African-American studies preferred;

Knowledge of human trafficking and/or the U.S. National Human Trafficking Hotline preferred

Communication (“External” Changes based upon position)

Internal: Ability to communicate with supervisors and peers;

External: Frequent contact with media outlets, press, donors, consultants, law enforcement, corporate partners, service providers public and private government agencies.